Corn popper



Nov. 23, 1937. H. L.. 'rHoMPsoN 2,099,911

CORN POPPER Filed Aug. 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Shea?i l Nov. 23, 1937. H, L, THOMPSON 2,099,911

CORN POPPER Filed Aug. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M? @y Ww- 9% Nav. 23, 1937. H. L. THOMPSON CORN POPPER Filed Aug. 1'?, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to corn poppers and it has for its object to provide a compact, portable, electrically heated and convenient device of simple construction for popping corn in an eilicient manner and with a minimum of effort by the operator.

Another object is to enable the operator to charge the popper with a predetermined quantity of corn and then to deliver the charge into the device in adjacent relation to the heating element.

Another object is to provide means for agitating the corn so that it will not be burned and for elevating and delivering the popped corn as it is popped.

A further object of the invention is to automatically separate the popped corn from the unpopped corn and discharge the popped corn during the popping operation.

And a still further object is to provide means for removably supporting and holding the heating element in operative position in the device so that it can be easily removed and replaced whenever desired.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of the invention Fig. l is a sectional View on the line I I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View with the cover plate broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the finger plates;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4,'

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 'I 'I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the retainer for the heating element.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a base 9 having a casing mounted thereon comprising side plates I having inturned anges I0 to receive the body plate I I. The side plates have inturned ears I2 at the bottom to receive screws I3 by which the side plates are secured to the base, and tie bolts I4 pass through the side plates to secure them together upon the body plate. A front plate I is provided with side flanges I6 which interlock with flanges I6' on the adjacent edges of the side plates, Fig. 3. A handle I5 is secured to the front plate.

A shaft I'I, Fig. 2, having an intermediate rectangular portion I'I extends loosely through a sleeve composed of a plurality of sections I8. The shaft and the sectional sleeve are arranged transversely and substantially centrally of the shell formed by the sides, body and front, and the ends Il" of the shaft project beyond the v5 sides and are threaded to receive a crank handle I8 for operating the shaft and which can be mounted on either end of the shaft. One end of the shaft has a right thread and the other a left thread to receive the handle. This insures that 10 accidental reverse operation of the handle wilI not turn the shaft reversely but will merely result in unscrewing the handle from the shaft. Plates I9 having rectangular openings I9 are mounted on the shaft between the sections of the sleeve, l5 and nuts 2li on the end portions of the shaft bear against the outside sections of the sleeve and hold the sections of the sleeve and the plates I9 in assembled relation with the plates alternating with the sections and the sections spacing the plates apart.

Each of the plates, Fig. 4, is rectangular in shape and is provided with a flange I9 at each side edge which is clamped upon and secures a nger 2l. Each finger is kinked at 2|', Fig. 1, 25 adjacent the clamp so that its free end portion is directed rearwardly from its clamped portion. The plates are all of substantially the same size but they are mounted on the rectangular portion I1 of the shaft in staggered relation. I pre- 30 fer the arrangement shown in the drawings in which the rectangular openings I9 in the pair of plates A, A at the middle of the shaft are aligned and in registration with each other so that the fingers secured thereto are also in alignment. The plates in each successive pair B, B, C, C and D, D, and their openings and lingers, are aligned, but the openings in each successive pair are advanced substantially twenty-two degrees out of registration with the preceding pair. This provides a desirable distribution of the lingers within the casing so that in the operation of the device the corn will be constantly and thoroughly agitated. In the form of the invention illustrated the fingers are in four successive V formations, due to the staggered position of the pairs of plates I9, and this tends to cause an inward movement of the corn, popped and unpopped, away from both side plates. This increases the agitation of the kernels at the bottom of the popping chamber, prevents the popped corn from jamming between the outside fingers and the side plates, and generally facilitates the delivery of the popped corn by keeping it away from the side plates and at the center of the popping chamber.

, the body plate is bent downwardly to form a guard and is engaged with the sectional sleeve of the shaft, being provided with a plurality of parallel slots 24 to receive the ng'ers. These slots 24 divide the guard into strips 25 which are bent about the sections I8 of the sleeve, Fig. 2. The ends of the fingers travel close to the body plate except at the slotted guard portion and are intended not only to agitate the corn inthe popping chamber 22 but also to lift the popped corn up to the upper part of Vthe popping chamber and push it over therguard and discharge it through the opening 23 onto the delivery apron from'which.

it rolls oif into any suitable receptacle placed to receive it.

A cover plate 26 is hinged at 21 on Vthe Vfront plate and is provided with an operating handle 26 and with louvers 28. A charge platey 29 is mounted ona shaft 3,0 which is supported in slots 3;,I, in the sides of the device and is provided with acrank handle 3| This plate serves the purpose of a charge shelf and is arranged at an angle to the body p lateso that when the cover plate is thrown to open position a, charge of corn may beY deposited in the charge chamber formed by the charge plate, the side plates, the body plate,y

and the'front plate, after which the crank handle 3I,1"is operated to swing the charge plate sufcientlyto permit the corn kernels to iiow down over ,the body plate to the bottom of the popping chamber.

A suitable electrical heating element 32 is supported in position on the base close to the body plate, and opposite that part of the popping chamber where the corn will ordinarily collect. A convenient means for removably securing the heatingelement in place consists of a wire retainer. 33Fig. 8, which has two arms 34 provided with kinks 34 and upturned ends 34". VThe base is. provided with openings 35 and recessed portions 35 leading. thereto. The retainer is arranged on the base with the kinks 34' seated in the openings 354 and the arms 34. engaging the recesses 3 5.' in position to receive the heating element 32, This element is provided with conductorwires 36.which pass through an insulationy plug 3J secured. in the'front I5` and are provided with the usual plug (not shown) to bel engaged withra socket ofan electric circuit. Openings 38 are provided in the sides of. the device above the heatingY element to. reduce the cross-sectional area of the side plates. This restricts the conductionof heatv from the popping area adjacent the heating element and tends to confine the rheat where it is required. Y

The body plate II is provided atrthe charge chamber with longitudinal slits II' and the adjacent end of the body plate is fastened to the front plate I5 by bolt II. Alternate sections of thev body plate between the slits I I arebent out'- Wardly to provide for the passage of air from the fiue-like passagev I5 between the body plate II and the4 front plate I5 into the charging chamber. Thus heatthrown off from the heating element will Y passY up through the flue-like passage through the openings between the slits and into the charge chamber to preheat the corn therein.

The heating element is normally assembled in place and the device provides. a compact, portable popper which can be used in. any place where it is convenient to plugin to an electric circuit. The first charge of corn is placed in the charge chamberon thel charge plate and the latter is operated to permit the corn to flow down to the bottom of the popping chamber. The heating element may be connected with the electric circuit before or after the charge of corn is introduced into the popping chamber. Another charge of corn may be placed in the charge chamber to be preheated While the first charge of corn is being popped. The crank I8' is turned slowly to cause the iingers to revolve in the popping chamber and agitate the corn until it pops. The fingers are far enough apart so that they will not lift the kernels of corn but when a kernel of corn pops it greatlyincreases in size and the lingers will car/y the popped corn up over the guard and discl'\arge;i+/l

ontoY the delivery apron whence it rolls off into a receptacleprovided to receive it. The heat pro.- videdl by the heating element and the constant agitation provided by the iingers causes the corn to pop and` prevents it from burning. I prefer to bend the fingers rearwardly in or about the mann'er shown in Fig. l, instead of arranging`r them radially in the casing, because the bent fingers have a trailing movement which causes them to disengage from Ythe popped'cornpwhile at theV same time they will agitateandlift the corn in the desired manner. The bent iingers will Yyield. readily while being drawn forwardly away from any cornY kernelsY or popped-cornth-at' may become stuck or jammed in tlfiedeviceV and the following fingers. will strike such'kernels or popped. corn and dis?. lodge them. When the desired amount ofcorn; has been popped thev plug. maybe disconnected so that the heating element will cool. If there'varel any kernels-remaining in the popping chamber they can be removed by'rapidly turning the shaft'Y which Will cause the fingers toV travel at such speed that they will pick up and discharge the unpopped kernels.

I have shown the invention in a formwhich has been found to be suitable for the purpose butI reserve the right to-,make any changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as fall within the scope of, the following claims:

' I claim:

. 1. A corn` popper comprising Va base, a Ycasing mounted on the base andproviding a popping chamber, a heating element supported adjacent to the popping chamber, a guard, a delivery apron, a plurality of'iingers arranged iny staggered relation within the chamber, and means for revolving the iingers to agitate' the corn in the chamber and to lift the popped corn and push it over'the guard and discharge it onto said apron.

2. A corn popper comprising a base, a casing mounted on the base and providingl a'pop'ping chamber, a heating element, supportedV adjacent to the popping chamber, a slotted guardi at' the top of the popping chamber, a delivery' Yapron., a plurality of fingers within the chamberand .oper-v ating in the slots of theguard, andv means for revolving the iingers to agitatey the corn-inA the chamber and to liftthefpopp'edcorn and push it over the guard and discharge ity onto said apro-n..

3. A corn popper comprising a base, a casing mounted on the base and providing a popping chamber,Y aheating element supported adjacent to the popping chamber, a guard, a delivery apron, a plurality of rearwardly bent ngers within the chamber, andmeans for revolving the fingers to agitate the corn in the chamber and to lift the popped corn and push it over the guardv and discharge it ontosaid apron, saidlngers being rearwardly bent'y to'render them readily Y yieldableV upon vthe jamming of corn in the path of travel ofthe fingers.

4. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of fingers mounted on the shaft Within the casing, said fingers being arranged in successive groups with the fingers in each group arranged in V formation, and means for operating the shaft.

5. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of rearwardly bent fingers mounted on the shaft within the casing, said fingers being arranged in successive groups with the flngers in each group arranged in V formation, and means for operating the shaft.

6. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of fingers, means on the shaft carrying said fingers and arranged in a staggered position on the shaft which distributes the lingers in a plurality of successive V formations, and means for operating the shaft.

7. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of fingers, means on the shaft supporting said lingers in pairs with the pairs arranged in different positions axially within the casing, and means for operating the shaft.

8. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of fingers, plates mounted on the shaft and carrying said lingers, said plates being arranged in pairs and the pairs in staggered positions to distribute the fingers radially and axially within the casing, and means for operating the shaft.

9. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft supported in the casing, a plurality of longitudinal plates mounted on the shaft, clamps at the edges of said plates, fingers secured in said clamps, said plates being disposed peripherally in different positions on said shaft to distribute said ngers radially and axially within the casing, and means for operating the shaft.

10. A corn popper comprising a Casing, a shaft mounted in the casing, a plurality of longitudinal plates mounted on the shaft, clamps at the edges of said plates, rearwardly bent fingers secured in said clamps, said plates being disposed peripherally in different positions on said shaft to distribute said ngers radially and axially within the casing, and means for operating the shaft.

11. A corn popper comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in the casing and having a portion square in cross-section, a plurality of rectangular plates mounted on said shaft, clamps at the 3 edges of said plates, fingers secured in said clamps, said fingers being bent beyond their clamps to trail rearwardly and said plates being secured in different rotative positions on the shaft to distribute the fingers radially and axially within the casing, and means for operating the shaft.

12. A corn popper comprising a casing having two sides and a generally cylindrical body, said body having an opening therein and being depressed below said opening to form a delivery apron within said casing, and operating means within the casing to discharge popped corn through said opening andonto said apron.

13. Acorn popper comprising a casing having two sides and a generally cylindrical body, said body having an opening therein and being depressed below said opening to form a delivery apron within said casing, a slotted guard eX- tending from the upper end of said apron within the casing, an agitator comprising a plurality of ngers arranged to travel through the slots in the guard, and means for revolving the agitator to lift popped corn and discharge it through said opening onto said apron.

14. A corn popper comprising a base having an opening therein, a casing mounted on the base and providing a popping chamber, a heating element, and a wire retainer removably holding the heating element and detachably engaged with said opening.

15. A corn popper comprising a casing having two sides and a generally cylindrical body with an opening therein, a heating element, and means for supporting the heating element adjacent the bottom of the casing, the sides of the casing being provided with openings to reduce the cross-sectional area of the sides and restrict the conduction of heat therein from the heating element.

16. A corn popper comprising a casing having a popping chamber, a movable cover plate, and a movable charge plate Within the casing beneath the cover plate to receive a charge of corn to be popped.

17. A corn popper comprising a generally cylindrical casing, a heating element supported at the bottom of the casing, an agitator within the casing, a charge chamber at the top of said c'asing comprising a movable charge plate and a movable cover plate, and means for operating the agitator.

HERBERT L. THOMPSON. 

